|
Anna wants to move the pitch 15/8/2003
A Swansea University graduate is hoping to move the university's redundant astroturf pitch to an historic village in South Africa.
Anna Lane, 22, graduated last year and is currently involved in fundraising events. Her current project is to supply a pitch to the village primary school at Isandlwana in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
The village became famous after 1,300 British soldiers and South African volunteers were defeated by a Zulu army, on January 22nd, 1879. It is a mere 20 minutes drive from Rorke's Drift, where a force of just 139 men, many of them Welsh, held off a vastly superior Zulu force on January 22nd and 23rd, 1879.
The pitch will be administered by the Isandlwana Lodge hotel, which overlooks the battlefield and stands on the spot where the Zulu chieftain oversaw the battle.
'We've had to ask permission from the Zulu chiefs to site the pitch at the school,' said Anna. She explained that the school is right next to the battlefield. 'It's a beautiful area,' she added.
'Football is very important to the local children and the regional team are South African champions', she said. Anna saw the need for a decent pitch for the pupils to play on when she visited South Africa on holiday, and she is intimately acquainted with the astroturf involved in the ambitious project.
'I played hockey for the university so we used to train on that astroturf. Plans for the new pool had started before I left Swansea University, so I knew about it then,' said Anna.
The pitch at Sketty Lane is no longer needed because the Wales National Pool and the surrounding sports village will stand on the site. She approached the university's Director of Business Services, Eifion Griffiths, to ask what would happen to the Astroturf once it was taken up.
'I spoke to him and, as long as we can confirm that we can transport it, the university is happy to donate it,' she said.
Now the only remaining problem is transporting the astroturf from Swansea to the port of Durban. Anna has approached the Royal Navy for help with transport as the site is historically important to Britain's armed forces, and Swansea Docks would make an ideal starting point for the journey.
If any readers are involved in the transportation business and can help get the pitch out to South Africa, Anna would love to hear from you. She can be contacted at annasfound@hotmail.com
|
|
Share
|
